RSR522 - Brendan Duffey - Mixing and Mastering in Atmos for Kendrick Lamar and Sheryl Crow

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“Surround yourself with people you admire.” In this episode of Recording Studio Rockstars, I had the pleasure of talking with Brendan Duffey, a multi-Grammy-nominated mix and mastering engineer with nearly 30 years of experience. Brendan has worked with legends like Kendrick Lamar, Sheryl Crow, Milton Nascimento, and Bruce Dickinson—best known as the iconic lead singer of Iron Maiden and a legendary solo artist in his own right. Brendan brings a deep understanding of both the technical and emotional sides of music production.
We talked about everything from his early days teaching audio engineering—where he learned how to explain complex concepts in simple ways—to his approach to mixing and mastering across different genres. Brendan shared what it was like to remix and master much of Bruce Dickinson’s solo catalog, how he thinks about low-end in hip-hop, and why sometimes a mistake in the studio can lead to your most exciting creative breakthrough.
He also opened up about how vocal production has changed over the years, moving from an auditory process to a more visual one, and why he believes simplicity, emotional connection, and knowing your tools inside and out are what really make a mix come alive.
Brendan reminded me that mixing isn’t just about the gear or the plugins—it’s about bringing out the best in the performance and creating something that moves people. This was a killer episode with tons of great insight, whether you're just starting out or deep in your career.

My guest today is Brendan Duffey, an award-winning mix and mastering engineer with 21 nominations to his name. Based in Jupiter, Florida, Brendan has nearly three decades of experience delivering world-class sound for artists across genres, including Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Kendrick Lamar, Milton Nascimento, and Sheryl Crow.

For 10 years, Brendan owned and operated a major recording facility in São Paulo, Brazil, before relocating to California to focus on mixing and mastering. He later moved to Jupiter in search of a better quality of life for his family. Brendan holds a B.A. in Recording Arts from CSU Chico and a Master’s degree in Music Business from Berklee College of Music.

Thank you to Matt Boudreau for the introduction our NAMM meetup!

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Brendan Duffy
02:05 The Journey into Teaching Audio Engineering
06:12 The Excitement of Learning and Teaching
09:56 Brendan's Musical Background and Influences
13:44 Understanding Audio Equipment and Techniques
18:04 Pushing Boundaries in Mixing and Mastering
21:53 The Digital vs. Analog Debate in Music Production
23:14 The Power of Familiarity with Tools
28:17 Learning from Mentorship: Insights from Sylvia Massey
31:47 The Art of Vocal Recording: Balancing Technique and Emotion
35:19 The Mindset Shift: Mastering vs. Recording
39:06 The Visual vs. Auditory Approach in Vocal Comping
43:48 Brendan Duffy's Current Projects
49:10 Remixing and Mastering Insights
54:35 Low-End Processing Techniques
59:44 The Importance of Listening Environments
01:04:08 Vocal Processing Techniques
01:09:48 Mixing Workflow and Equipment Preferences
01:13:19 Bass Management and Key Significance
01:14:47 Crafting the Low End: Hip-Hop Mixing Techniques
01:20:33 The Art of Mistakes: Embracing Imperfections in Music Production
01:23:47 Learning from the Masters: Collaboration and Growth in Engineering
01:28:11 Dynamic Mixing: The Importance of Automation in Mastering
01:36:11 Navigating Technology: The Role of AI in Music Production
01:46:50 Life Lessons: Balancing Career and Personal Happiness

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